Influence of Interaction on Weak Localization

TL;DR

This paper examines how electromagnetic environment and electron-electron interactions affect weak localization corrections in disordered metals, establishing the validity of classical interaction treatment at relevant temperatures.

Contribution

It extends the understanding of weak localization by analyzing quantum corrections and clarifying the temperature range where classical interaction models are applicable.

Findings

Quantum correction is small at high temperatures.

Classical interaction treatment remains valid within certain temperature ranges.

No external low frequency cut-off is necessary in the calculations.

Abstract

We discuss the influence of the electromagnetic environment and the electron-electron interaction on the weak localization correction to the conductivity of a disordered metal. The theory of this phenomenon for sufficiently high temperature, where the quantum nature of the interaction of electrons with the electromagnetic field can be disregarded, has been understood for some time. We consider the first order quantum correction to this semiclassical description and work out the temperature range in which this correction is small. No external low frequency cut-off is needed in our calculation. We conclude that in the whole region of temperature where the weak localization correction is much smaller than the Drude conductivity the classical treatment of the interaction is valid.